Shellfish bag turning machine, for example oyster bags

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a mobile machine (1) for turning shellfish bags (3), such as oysters, previously placed on a rearing table (2), the machine (1) comprising a first lower conveyor (11) adapted to receive the bags (3) one by one from the rearing table and move them to a turning device, and a second upper conveyor (13) on which the bags are in a position turned over relative to their position on the first lower conveyor (11), the turning device comprising an intermediate elevating conveyor or mobile ramp (12) adapted to direct the bags from the first lower conveyor (11) to the second upper conveyor (13) and means for tilting each bag (3) from the intermediate elevating conveyor (12) to the second upper conveyor (13) in said turned over position,said inverted pouch being suitable for transfer from the second upper conveyor (13) to the rearing table (2). Abbreviated figure: Figure 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Shellfish bag turning machine, such as for oysters. Scope of disclosure

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of seafood farming, in particular oysters.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to a machine for turning over shellfish bags, such as oysters, placed on a rearing table. Prior art

[0003] A commonly used oyster farming method is called the "elevation" method. This method consists of placing horizontal metal tables on the foreshore and then putting the oysters in bags arranged substantially horizontally on the tables and attached to them by elastic bands.

[0004] In oyster beds, the warming of the waters leads to a proliferation of algae and parasitic shellfish which attach themselves to the bags, which in turn delays the development of the oysters.

[0005] Faced with this problem, oyster farmers are forced to turn and beat the bags much more often, even though it is a very physical job requiring several steps, namely unhooking the bags, putting them on their side, beating the oysters so that they detach from each other and thus promote their homogeneity within the bag, lifting and turning the bags which are very heavy, shaking the bags so that the oysters are well distributed and reattaching the bags to the table.

[0006] Since these tables are relatively low, the operator has to adopt a very uncomfortable and traumatic position to detach or attach the bags, and to lift and turn the bags over.

[0007] These operations are traumatic for the operator and relatively time-consuming, while working time at sea is limited, particularly due to the tides which dictate the operators' work schedule. These tasks therefore require several operators.

[0008] Moreover, these difficulties are amplified because these operations take place in a hostile environment (working in water and mud regardless of weather conditions). Disclosure Summary

[0009] The invention thus aims to solve at least one of the problems mentioned above by proposing a new type of mobile machine designed to turn over shellfish bags, such as oyster bags, previously placed on a rearing table, the machine comprising a first (lower) conveyor suitable for receiving the bags from the rearing table one by one and moving them to a turning device, and a second (upper) conveyor on which the bags are in a position turned over relative to their position on the first lower conveyor, the turning device comprising an intermediate elevating conveyor suitable for directing the bags from the first (lower) conveyor to the second (upper) conveyor and means for tilting each bag from the intermediate elevating conveyor to the second (upper) conveyor in said turned over position, said turned over bag being suitable for being transferred from the second (upper) conveyor to the rearing table.

[0010] The bags of a rearing table can then be turned over by means of this machine by placing them one by one on the lower conveyor before being rearranged on the rearing table once the latter have been arranged on the second upper conveyor in the turned-over position.

[0011] The means for turning the machine include an elevating conveyor which first moves the bags from the lower conveyor to the level of the upper conveyor and then tilts them onto the latter in the turned-over position.

[0012] This makes the operator's task easier since several operations traditionally carried out by hand are here mechanized.

[0013] Other particularly simple and convenient features of the machine according to the invention are described below.

[0014] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the first conveyor moves in a first direction corresponding to the movement of the machine in operation and the second conveyor moves in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction.

[0015] Advantageously, the elevator conveyor or ramp is equipped with elements for attaching the bags to the intermediate elevator conveyor.

[0016] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the machine includes means for pressing the pockets against the intermediate elevating conveyor.

[0017] Preferably, the plating means comprise at least one plating wheel configured to come into contact with each pocket carried by the intermediate elevating conveyor.

[0018] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the turning device includes, downstream of the plating means, means for detaching the pockets from the intermediate elevator conveyor.

[0019] Preferably, the unhooking means comprising at least one pocket unhooking wheel configured to lift each pocket carried by the intermediate elevator conveyor and tip it by pivoting onto the second upper conveyor.

[0020] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the machine includes at least one tapping mechanism for tapping the bags carried by the first conveyor and / or the second conveyor.

[0021] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the machine includes means for washing the bags carried by the first conveyor and / or the second conveyor.

[0022] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the machine includes means for vibrating the bags carried by the first conveyor and / or the second conveyor.

[0023] According to a particular aspect of the invention, the lower conveyor, the upper conveyor and the intermediate conveyor are driven by a hydraulic type motor capable of being powered by the hydraulic pump of a vehicle pulling the machine.

[0024] Alternatively, the machine includes means for setting in motion powered by at least one energy source carried by the machine.

[0025] The invention also relates to a method of turning shellfish bags, such as oysters, previously placed on a rearing table, by means of a machine as described above, the method comprising the manual transfer of the bags from the rearing table to the first (lower) conveyor of the machine, the movement of the bags from the first conveyor to the intermediate lifting conveyor, then the tilting of the bags onto the second (upper) conveyor in a position turned over relative to their position on the first lower conveyor, and the transfer of said turned-over bag from the second (upper) conveyor to the rearing table. List of Figures

[0026] The disclosure, as well as its various advantages, will be more easily understood in light of the following description of several illustrative and non-limiting embodiments thereof, and the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0027] [Fig. 1] is a schematic side view of a mobile machine for turning oyster bags according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a top view of the machine of [Fig.1] alone;

[0029] [Fig.3] is a top view of the machine when it is towed by a vehicle. along a breeding table.

[0030] Detailed description of an example embodiment

[0031] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a mobile machine 1 intended to turn or rotate oyster bags 3 placed on a rearing table 2, the machine 1 comprising a frame 10 on which a first conveyor 11 is mounted lower suitable for receiving one by one the bags 3 from the rearing table 2 and moving them towards a turning device.

[0032] The chassis 10 which is equipped with wheels (namely in this example, two fixed wheels 101 and two retractable wheels 102 by pivoting for transporting the machine 1) is designed to straddle the support table 2.

[0033] The machine can thus be moved along the rearing table 2 (its direction of movement is illustrated by the arrow S on Fig. 1), the operator accompanying the machine 1 along the rearing table 2.

[0034] The rearing table 2 comprises a support surface 21 for the pockets extending substantially horizontally and vertical support legs 22 for the support surface 21 which are planted in the ground. The support surface 21 is, for example, located 60 cm above the ground.

[0035] The pockets 3 are mesh pockets which are conventionally connected to the support surface 21 by elastic bands.

[0036] By way of example, machine 1 is configured to turn bags 3 of length equal to 1000 mm and of width equal to 500 mm, the weight of bag 3 being between 13 and 25 kg depending on the season.

[0037] The pockets 3 which lie flat on the support table 2 are lifted by an operator and placed on the first conveyor, called the lower conveyor, 11.

[0038] The first conveyor 11 moves the pockets 3 in a first direction (from left to right on the [Fig.1]), which corresponds to the direction of movement of the machine 1.

[0039] The machine includes a second conveyor, called the upper conveyor, 13 on which the pockets 3 are in a reversed position relative to their position on the first lower conveyor 11.

[0040] The second conveyor 13 moves the pockets 3 in a second direction (from right to left on the [Fig.1]), opposite to the first direction before the operator places them back on the support table 2, flat, but on the opposite side to the side on which they were initially resting on the table.

[0041] As previously mentioned, turning the bags over promotes oyster growth, limits algae growth and prevents oysters from sticking to the mesh of the bag.

[0042] The first and second conveyors 11, 13 of the machine are here superimposed in a vertical direction.

[0043] The turning device also includes an intermediate conveyor, called a lifting belt or moving ramp, 12 which is adapted to direct the pockets 3 from the first lower conveyor 11 to the second upper conveyor 13.

[0044] The turning device further includes means for tilting each pocket of the intermediate conveyor 12 onto the second upper conveyor 13 into a reversed position.

[0045] In other words, the elevator conveyor first moves the bags from the lower conveyor to the level of the upper conveyor and then tilts them onto the latter in an upside-down position.

[0046] This intermediate conveyor 12 has in the illustrated example hooks 121 for attaching the bags 3. These hooks are intended to be inserted into a mesh of a bag so as to secure it to the intermediate conveyor 12 and prevent the bag from falling back by gravity onto the lower conveyor 11 when the bag is raised towards the second conveyor 13.

[0047] Other means of attachment can be envisaged in alternative embodiments.

[0048] Each of the conveyors 11, 12, 13 is a multi-belt conveyor in this example, driven by a motorized shaft. These conveyors 11, 12, 13 move continuously and are mechanically independent. Nevertheless, a mechanical linkage can be implemented to obtain a speed differential between the different conveyors 11, 12, 13.

[0049] In the illustrated example, the lower conveyor 11 is inclined upwards from its upstream end (left) to its downstream end (right). The upper conveyor 13 is in two parts: a first part 133, separated from the intermediate conveyor 12, is inclined downwards from its upstream end (right) to its downstream end (left). This first part 133 is extended by a second part 134, which is inclined more steeply downwards than the first part 133 from its upstream end (right) to its downstream end (left).

[0050] The space between the first part 133 of the upper conveyor 13 and the intermediate conveyor 12 allows the passage of the pockets 3 from the lower conveyor 11 to the upper conveyor 13.

[0051] The operation of machine 1 is implemented in the following manner.

[0052] Machine operation

[0053] The machine 1 is placed above a rearing table 2 supporting oyster bags 3 that we wish to turn over.

[0054] The operator detaches the pockets 3 from the support surface (those located to his left on the [Fig.l]) and then places the pockets 3 at the upstream end of the lower conveyor 11.

[0055] As the pouch(es) 3 advance on the lower conveyor 11 via the conveyor belts, an initial tapping of the pouches is performed by means of a mechanism called a tapper, referenced 14. The tapper 14 here comprises a bar 142 mounted on a pivoting axis 141 which describes a back-and-forth movement up and down, to strike the bags 3 which pass on the lower conveyor 11 below the striker 14.

[0056] At the downstream end of the lower conveyor 1, the bag 3 is then picked up by the intermediate conveyor 12 equipped with bag-gripping pins 121. The size of these pins 131 is chosen so that they can penetrate the mesh of the bags 3. The intermediate conveyor 12 lifts the bag 3 at the level of the lower end of the intermediate conveyor 12, the conveyor belts and the pins of the latter carrying the bag 3 along an upward trajectory.

[0057] The pockets 3 are pressed onto the intermediate conveyor 12 by means of at least one pressing and gripping wheel 131 (here two as seen in [Fig. 2]). The two pressing and gripping wheels 131 are mounted here at the upstream end of the second conveyor 13.

[0058] When the bags 3 reach the upper end of the intermediate conveyor 12, they are detached from the pegs 121 by at least one detachment wheel (here two, as seen in [Fig. 2]). The two detachment wheels 122 for the bags are mounted at the upper end of the intermediate conveyor 12.

[0059] The diameter of the detachment wheels 122 of the bags is chosen so that the bags are first lifted from the plane of the intermediate conveyor 12 until they are in a vertical position relative to the ground before tilting towards the upper conveyor 13.

[0060] Thus, once they reach the top of the machine 1, the pockets 3 tilt and fall successively under the effect of the release wheels and gravity.

[0061] The falling pockets 3 are taken up by the upper conveyor 13 at its upstream end.

[0062] A second tap is performed by means of a referenced mechanism 15. The tapper 15 comprises a bar 152 mounted on a pivoting axis 151 and which describes a back and forth movement up and down, to tap the pockets 3 which pass on the upper conveyor 13 below the tapper 15.

[0063] Advantageously, a vibrating mechanism 16 is implemented downstream of the tapping mechanism in order to equalize the oysters in each pocket 3. In this example, it is a flexible blade that oscillates up and down.

[0064] When a bag 3 reaches the downstream end of the upper conveyor 13 which overhangs the rearing table, the operator can retrieve the bag 3 and hang it back on the rearing table 2.

[0065] Meanwhile, the operator can load other bags into machine 1.

[0066] Although not illustrated, the bags can be washed by means of spray bars arranged on the lower and / or upper conveyor. In order to avoid depositing washing waste on the bags being processed, For processing, collection and evacuation means such as mechanical scrapers can be placed below the conveyors.

[0067] The oyster bag turning machine of the invention is thus capable of performing a task that was previously carried out manually under difficult conditions.

[0068] The conveyor drive is implemented here with hydraulic motors managed by flow regulators allowing the conveyor advance speed and the rotation of the tappers to be adjusted according to the maturity of the oysters.

[0069] Hydraulic power is supplied by a tractor 4 (or an oyster barge or a motorized self-propelled system) to which the machine 1 is coupled by means of a connecting arm 5 as seen in [Fig.3]. In this [Fig.3], the direction of forward movement of the tractor 4 and the machine 1 is schematically represented by an arrow.

[0070] In one variant, the machine may be self-propelled and include motorization means powered by at least one energy source.

[0071] As seen in Figures 1 and 3, guide bars 103 are mounted on either side of the frame 10 above the wheels to prevent the machine from getting caught in the legs 22 of the rearing table 2. In the illustrated example, the guide bars have a flared portion to facilitate positioning the machine at the end of the rearing table 2.

[0072] In a particular embodiment not illustrated, the machine does not include pocket release wheels, the pocket release being carried out manually.

[0073] The plating and hooking wheels 131 and the unhooking wheels 122 are preferably inflatable pneumatic wheels.

[0074] The machine that is the subject of the invention can be used for all types of shellfish in bags.

Claims

Demands

1. A mobile machine (1) for turning shellfish bags (3), such as oysters, previously placed on a rearing table (2), the machine (1) comprising a first lower conveyor (11) adapted to receive the bags (3) one by one from the rearing table and to move them to a turning device, and a second upper conveyor (13) on which the bags (3) are in a position turned over relative to their position on the first lower conveyor (11), the turning device comprising an intermediate elevating conveyor (12) adapted to direct the bags (3) from the first lower conveyor (11) to the second upper conveyor (13) and means for tilting each bag (3) from the intermediate elevating conveyor (12) to the second upper conveyor (13) in said turned over position, said bag once turned over being adapted to be transferred from the second upper conveyor (13) to the rearing table (2).

2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first lower conveyor (11) moves in a first direction corresponding to the movement of the machine in operation and the second upper conveyor (13) moves in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction.

3. Machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that intermediate elevator conveyor (12) is provided with pocket attachment elements to said intermediate elevator conveyor (12).

4. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for pressing the pockets (3) against the intermediate elevating conveyor (12).

5. Machine (1) according to claim 4, the plating means comprising at least one plating wheel (131) configured to come into contact with each pocket (3) carried by the intermediate elevating conveyor (12).

6. Machine (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the turning device comprises, downstream of the plating means, means for detaching the pockets (3) from the intermediate elevator conveyor (12).

7. Machine (1) according to claim 6, the detachment means comprising at least one detachment wheel (122) of the pockets (3) configured to lift each pocket (3) carried by the intermediate elevating conveyor (12) and to pivot it onto the second upper conveyor (13).

8. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one tapping mechanism (14, 15) for tapping the pockets (3) carried by the first lower conveyor (11) and / or the second upper conveyor (13).

9. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for washing the bags carried by the first lower conveyor (11) and / or the second upper conveyor (13).

10. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for vibrating (16) the pockets (3) carried by the first lower conveyor (11) and / or the second upper conveyor (13).

11. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first lower conveyor (11), the second upper conveyor (13) and the intermediate lifting conveyor (12) are driven by a hydraulic type motor capable of being powered by the hydraulic pump of a vehicle towing the machine (1) or by at least one power source carried by the machine (1).

12. Method of turning shellfish bags, such as oysters, previously placed on a rearing table (2), by means of a machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising the manual transfer of the bags (3) from the rearing table (2) to the first lower conveyor (11) of the machine (1), the movement of the bags (3) from the first lower conveyor (11) to the intermediate elevating conveyor (12), then the tilting of the bags (12) onto the second upper conveyor (13) in a position reversed relative to their position on the first lower conveyor (11), and the transfer of said reversed bag (3) from the second upper conveyor (13) to the rearing table (2).